Animal husbandry – Confining or housing – Often portable – small capacity – roofed housing structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-08
2001-02-20
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Confining or housing
Often portable, small capacity, roofed housing structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189490
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to carriers for small animals and particularly to a locking system for a carrier having removable front and bottom enclosing panels.
My U.S. Pat. No 5,791,292 discloses a pet carrier in the form of a box-like structure with upstanding side and rear walls, a removable front wall which serves as a sliding door, as well as a removable bottom wall which serves as a sliding floor.
When capturing a small animal, the carrier is first prepared by placing the sliding front door in position on the carrier and removing the sliding floor. The carrier is placed bottom end first over the animal from above and when the animal is within the carrier, the sliding floor is put back into its place. The front door and sliding bottom are preferably latched to each other to secure the animal within the carrier.
The animal may be released by removing either or both the front door and the sliding bottom.
This invention is directed to a locking system for the sliding front wall and sliding floor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sliding front door and sliding floor are provided with a locking system to guard against inadvertent removal of either the sliding door or floor, and to provide a particular sequence for removal of either the door or the floor.
The locking system in preferred embodiment comprises interlocking components including a opening or slot through the lower part of the door cooperating with a projection in the form of a lip extending rearwardly from the front edge of the sliding floor. The lip and slot cooperate to limit upward movement of the door. In closed position of the sliding front door and the sliding floor, the projection or lip is positioned in the door slot so that vertical movement of the door is limited to a distance equal to the vertical clearance between lip and slot.
The locking system further comprises interlocking components including a block in the preferred form of a pair of wedges positioned on the upper surface of the sliding floor near the base of the door.
In closed position of the sliding front door and the sliding floor, the wedge cooperates with the door so that the floor cannot slide horizontally to an open position because the door engages the wedges and blocks floor movement. In order to remove the sliding floor, the door must move vertically to clear the wedges, whereupon the floor can slide horizontally for removal from the pet carrier.
As noted, the slot through the door for receiving the floor projection or lip is sufficiently wide to accommodate a short vertical movement of the door to clear the floor wedge with the opening remaining in registry with the lip. Therefore, in order to remove the sliding door, the door must first move the vertical clearance above the floor wedges, the lip and slot disengaged by sliding the floor a short distance outward, and then the door can slide vertically for removal from the pet carrier.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an enclosure for transporting small animals with interlocking sliding front door and sliding floor.
Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure with a particular sequence for removing floor and door.
Another object of the invention is to provide an enclosure for transport of small animals with removable door and floor wherein the floor and door have an interlocking mechanism for securing them in place against inadvertent removal.
Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent with an understanding of the following detailed description of the invention or upon employment of the invention in practice.
REFERENCES:
patent: 747494 (1903-12-01), Smith
patent: 1168914 (1916-01-01), Spivey et al.
patent: 1645992 (1927-10-01), Hinde
patent: 3195506 (1965-07-01), Beard
patent: 4590885 (1986-05-01), Sugiura
patent: 5184568 (1993-02-01), Healey
patent: 5251572 (1993-10-01), Frame et al.
patent: 5791292 (1998-08-01), Jempolsky
patent: 5979364 (1999-11-01), Ricketts
Carone Michael J.
Gellner Jeffrey L.
Walsh Patrick J.
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